So I guess 3G iPad sales are about to drop?
The beauty of 3G iPad is the instant on, instant access nature of the connection. Currently getting a connection on my Mac via iPhone tethering takes about 20-30 seconds. I'd rather pay $14.99 and have it all the time, like I do on the iPad. The experience is far superior.
When I do have to wirelessly tether it, I'm usually not connected for more than an hour, and it is honestly equivalent to watching an hour long movie in iTunes or playing a game for an hour.
I honestly don't understand why tethering gets such a bad rap for battery drainage, when from my experience, _using_ the phone drains it just as quickly. Sure, it uses the network more heavily, but it shouldn't be doing a whole lot more.